Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of emerging and classical flame retardants in bird eggs of 14 species from Doñana Natural Space and surrounding areas (South-western Spain)

The occurrence of classical (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs) and emerging FRs (dechloranes, hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromoethyl benzene (PBEB) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE)) in unborn eggs of 14 different species from Doñana Natural Space and surrounding areas was studied. PBDEs, Dec-602, Dec-603 and DP were detected in all the species, whereas HBB, PBEB, DBDPE and Dec-604 were not detected in any sample. ΣPBDE and ΣDechlorane levels ranged from 1.40 to 90.7, and from 0.77 to 260 ng/g lw, respectively. BDE-209 was the most abundant BDE congener in almost all the species, whereas Dec-602 was the predominant among dechloranes. In general, levels of PBDEs and dechloranes were similar and even higher for dechloranes, probably indicating the increasing use of dechloranes as a result of legal restrictions on PBDEs. In both cases, the most contaminated specie was the white stork. Using stable isotope characterization, differences among species and possible biomagnification processes were also evaluated. PBDE levels increased as the trophic position increased, showing biomagnification capacity. The same behavior was observed for Dec-602 and Dec-603; however, DP levels were not linearly correlated with trophic level. These results show that more attention should be given to emerging FRs such as dechloranes since they show similar environmental behavior as PBDEs.

Microsatellite markers reveal multiple paternity and sperm storage in the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca

The spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) is a terrestrial species in which multiple mating is frequently observed. We assessed the probability of multiple paternity in clutches (n = 15) laid by eight females, including successive clutches. Paternity was determined by microsatellite analyses at three loci. A large number of alleles per locus (n = 15–22) provided high probabilities of detecting multiple paternity, particularly at all loci combined (P = 0.989). Multiple paternity was found in 20% of the clutches in which offspring displayed more than two paternal alleles. However, this frequency may have been underestimated, given the small clutch sizes and the few loci used. Also, T. graeca is able to store sperm from single or multiple matings and can use it to fertilize subsequent clutches of eggs, as indicated by the fact that the second clutch of a captive female was sired by a different male and that clutches of another female were multiply sired by the same males. These results confirm that multiple paternity exists in T. graeca and that sperm storage in this species may be an important reproductive strategy to fertilize multiple clutches per year.

Mitochondrial DNA haplotyping of Testudo graeca on both continental sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Testudo graeca is an endangered species of tortoise that inhabits Mediterranean areas of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Western populations are found on both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar. The effects of geographical isolation on genetic divergence were assessed by the sequence analysis of two mitochondrial DNA regions of the 12S rRNA and cytochrome b genes. Four different haplotypes were identified. A single haplotype was shared by all Spanish and some east Moroccan specimens. Two haplotypes were unique to the west Moroccan T. graeca populations and allowed the clear discrimination between individual specimens found west of the Moulouya River. Phylogenetic analysis based on the estimation of nucleotide sequence distances of the haplotypes suggests an African origin for the Spanish populations and a subspecies status for the west Moroccan pool.

Clutch frequency, egg and clutch characteristics, and nesting activity of spur-thighed tortoises,Testudo graeca, in southwestern Spain

Reproduction in female spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) in a population from southwestern Spain was studied by X-radiography of thread-trailed and radio-tagged individuals. Most females reproduce every year, laying one to four clutches from April to June with internesting intervals ranging from 21 to 29 days. Clutch size varied from 1 to 7 eggs and averaged 3.5 eggs. Carapace length and mass of females were positively correlated with the starting date and duration of the nesting season, while age was not correlated with any reproductive variable. Eggs averaged 33.87 × 27.97 mm in dimensions and 14.4 g in mass. Female mobility increased shortly before or after nesting, which resulted in wide dispersal of the various nests laid by an individual female.

Test of repeated operations and logistic regression as to the efficacy of brain mapping

The object of this paper is to apply two new methods, those of repeated observations and logistic regression in order to verify the validity of qEEG. These methods are applied using children with hyperactivity and attentional disorders, according to DSM III-R. The results of sensitivity and specificity were similar.